The federal government has commenced applications for the 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) overseas scholarship scheme, offering Nigerian postgraduate students the chance to study in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Malaysia.
The announcement was confirmed on Monday in a post on X (formerly Twitter) by Dada Olusegun, special adviser to the president on social media.
“FG has announced the commencement of applications for 2026 Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Scholarships overseas,” ... said.
According to details shared on the PTDF scholarship portal, the scheme is open to MSc and PhD candidates pursuing programmes relevant to the oil and gas industry. Successful applicants will receive tuition support, return flights, accommodation and living allowances, health insurance, and bench fees where required.
The PTDF noted that “The 2026 Overseas MSc and PhD Scholarships provide access to world-class training, research facilities, and global expertise, while developing indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”
For PhD applicants in the UK, the award will operate under a split-site arrangement, with research jointly conducted at the College of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Kaduna (CPESK), and partner institutions such as Robert Gordon University, University of Strathclyde, and the University of Portsmouth.
While emphasising the competitive nature of the scheme, PTDF stated that “Only candidates who demonstrate outstanding merit and suitability will be considered.” Eligibility will be assessed based on academic qualifications, research proposals, professional memberships, and programme relevance to Nigeria’s energy industry.
Applicants for MSc programmes must hold at least a Second Class Lower degree (or 2.1), have completed the NYSC programme, be computer literate, and possess five O’Level credits including English and Mathematics. In addition to these requirements, PhD candidates must submit a research proposal of no more than five pages outlining objectives, methodology, and data collection plans.
“All applicants must ensure their National Identity Number (NIN) is verified prior to application, and multiple applications or submission of falsified documents will result in automatic disqualification,” the statement added.
Applications must be submitted online at scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng for programmes approved at PTDF partner universities.
The deadline for submission is 27th February.